Friday, September 13, 2013

Innovation
on the local level was celebrated Wednesday evening as 20 business owners were
honored at the 14th Annual Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards sponsored by the
Daily Herald Business Ledger. The honorees represented 18 companies that were
feted at the event held at Northern Illinois University's Naperville campus,
with about 160 people cheering on their successes.

The EEAs
recognize outstanding entrepreneurship in suburban Chicago. Honorees demonstrate
the best traits of entrepreneurship, including willingness to take risk, drive,
perseverance and business creativity. In order to qualify, the nominee's
company or organization must be based in, have been founded in, or have a
significant presence in the suburban Chicago area. The seven categories for
awards were early stage, growth, innovation, outstanding service to
entrepreneurs, young entrepreneur (under age 40), regional spirit and lifetime
achievement.

Keynote speaker Howard Tullman, founder and
chairman of Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy in Chicago, highlighted a
number of key steps to being a successful entrepreneur. Tullman, who himself
has started 12 companies in his career and continues to be involved with
start-up companies, told the honorees that their success is keyed on the
ability to be innovative.

"Innovators are people moving the level a bit
higher and doing a bit more," he said. "It's that little movement
that makes the success of companies.

"It's not who's first, it's who's best,"
he added.

Tullman said true entrepreneurs must have a clear
vision of what they want to accomplish, then make their business the biggest
priority. That, he noted, can lead to some difficult decisions involving
employees or investors.

He also noted that an entrepreneur cannot build a
business without support from family.,

"Home is the only place where an entrepreneur
can be honest," he said, "and that's not easy on the people you live
with.

"But a lot of what you do can't be done
without the support and sacrifice of your families."

Many of
the honorees highlighted that support from families, co-workers and customers
as they told their stories to the audience.

"Our
clients are like family members," said Gregory Osko of Downers Grove-based
Trust Company of Illinois, who was honored in the regional spirit category.
"We have a large and extended family."

Many of
the honorees noted they started their businesses from humble beginnings — from
working long hours for little wages to emigrating to the U.S. for the
opportunity to fulfill their visions. Some used the moment to encourage others
to use their success to help in other areas.

"No
matter what you do, you cannot do it for yourself," said Al Ohieh, owner
of Small Business Accounting in Aurora and an honoree for lifetime achievement.
"Do anything you can to help the underprivileged."

Alan
Rose, president of Rose Paving in Bridgeview who was also honored for lifetime
achievement, gave one practical tip to the group.

"Hire
people smarter than you. I've done that," he said. "Trust them to do
as good or a better job than you."

Detailed
information on all EEA honorees will be published in the Oct. 14 edition of the
Daily Herald Business Ledger.

Presenting
sponsors for the event were B. Gunther & Co., NIU College of Business, and
Focus Capital Advisors Inc.